Starting gate roller extension



G. W. SCHILLING STARTING GATE ROLLER EXTENSION Oct. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1962 INVENTOR. GEORGE W. SCH ILLING W & 14w

Oct. 27, 1964 G. w. SCHILLING STARTING GATE ROLLER EXTENSION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1962 HlVlllll .IIHIHIIIIIIHI' III Fig. 4

INVENTOR.

GEORGE W. SCHILLING Jam roe ik W United States Patent STARTING GATE ROLLER EXTENSION George W. Schilling, 3037 28th St., San Diego, Calif. Filed Dec. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 247,407 Claims. (Cl. 119-155) The present invention relates generally to starting gate structure for racetracks and more particularly to a roller extension for starting gate partitions.

In the sport of horse racing it is accepted practice, on tracks of any size, to use mechanically operated starting gates to assure that all horses leave the starting line at the same time. These starting gates usually consist of a series of stalls each having barrier doors electrically controlled so that they may be opened at the same instant. It is essential that the stalls be placed as close together as possible so that horses on the outside are not too far from the inside rail. At the instant the barrier doors are opened the horses lunge forward spurred on by the jockeys. Frequently one or more horses may be slightly off balance at the instant of starting. This may cause some swerving which leads to collision or bumping of the horse or horses in the adjacent stalls. Such congestion at the starting gate frequently results in unseating of the jockey or serious injury to the horse.

Attempts to solve this problem in the past have not met with complete success. It has been proposed to provide extensions on the front of the partition between the stalls and to pad these extensions and cover them with canvas similar to the existing padding on the stalls. This expedient did prevent bumping but introduced another problem. As the horse lunged from the starting gate any sidewise movement would bring him in contact with the canvas covering of the extensions causing severe friction burns.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved starting gate partition extension that is safe in use and gives added protection to the horse and jockey.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved starting gate partition extension in which the friction between the horse or jockey and the gate is reduced to a minimum.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved starting gate partition extension which is readily removable to facilitate transportation and storage.

Finally it is an object of this invention to provide a starting gate partition roller extension of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view looking at the front of a single stall with the starting gates open;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a stall showing the starting gates in the closed position in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the starting gate partition roller extension.

The improved starting gate structure is disclosed generally in FIGURE 1 by the reference numeral 50. A single stall 20 is shown but it should be understood that a complete starting gate structure may include any number of individual stalls 20 each of which is separated by a partition 30. The starting gate structure is generally conventional and forms no part of the invention, only that part of the starting gate structure being shown that is essential for a complete understanding of the invention.

3,154,553 Patented Oct. 27, 1964 Forward posts 22 and rear posts 24 are part of the main framework of the starting gate assembly. Subframe assembly 26' extends forwardly of the post 22. Attached to sub-frame assembly 26 are plates 28. Barrier doors or gates 32 of the starting gate are hinged to plates 28. As shown in FIGURE 3 these barrier doors in the closed position meet in a substantial V at the center of each stall. They are actuated to an open position by springs or equivalent means controlled electrically by the starter. The upper half of barrier doors 32 are covered by open grill 34. A step or shelf 36 extends the complete length of each stall 20 on each side thereof and provides support for the assistant starter. This step is supported in a conventional manner from the main supporting structure of the partitions by U shaped frame members 38. Padding 40, 42 covers the sides of the stall and step 36 while padding 44, 46 covers the lower portion of the barrier doors.

The above described structure is representative of starting gates in general use and may vary somewhat in specific details.

Secured to the forward end of each stall partition is the roller extension generally indicated by reference numeral 50. This partition is in the form of a U shaped support member having a base plate 56 and an upper flat elongated support arm 52 and a lower fiat elongated support arm 54. Extending between the support arms 52 and 54 adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof are a series of equally spaced spindles 72 fixedly secured by any well known means in the support arms. A roller 70 is rotatably mounted on each spindle 72 by means of anti-friction bearings suitably mounted in each end of the roller. Although antifriction bearings are shown as mounting means for the rollers it is obvious that other well known bearing arrangements could be substituted therefor, the essential feature being that rollers 70 are rotatably mounted on a vertical axis relative to support arms 52 and 54. The rollers 70 may be formed of any suitable material having the required density and abrasion resistance. Hard rubber or any of the well known synthetic plastics have proved to be very satisfactory.

Extension 50 can be secured to the forward end of each stall partition by any suitable means. As herein shown a vertically extending plate 62, contiguous with base 56 is supported from the framework of the stall partitions by upper arm 58 and lower arm 60. The forward end of arms 58 and 60 are suitably secured to the plate 62 as by welding. The opposite end of arm 58 is connected by means of a cross member 59 to frame member 38 and the opposite end of arm 60 is connected to sub-frame members 26 by means of cross member 61.

For ease in transportation it is desirable to be able to readily detach the extension 50 from the plate 62. This may be accomplished by the conventional bolt and nut assembly 64. Other equally conventional securing means could be used in place of the particular means shown.

The operation of the roller extension will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. When the barrier 32 is sprung from the closed position shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 3, to the open position, shown by solid lines, the horses lunge forward. Extensions 50 project a suficient distance in front of the stall partitions to guide the horse and rider in the split second after the barrier opens. Accidental contact of the horse with the extension will be absorbed by rollers 70. Since these are freely rotatable on a vertical axis, no sliding friction between horse and extension will occur. After extensive use of starting gates equipped with roller extension, little or no evidence of friction burn has developed.

It is understood that minor variations from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. In combination with horse race starting gate structure having fixed partitions defining stalls therebetween and including barrier gates at the forward end thereof;

a partition extension having one end secured to and extending forwardly from the forward end or" each partition adjacent said gates; and

a plurality of vertically disposed anti-friction members rotatably mounted in said partition extension and extending laterally beyond the longitudinal edges thereof to guide a horse emerging from the corresponding stall;

said anti-friction members being rollers mounted for rotation about vertical axes at each longitudinal side of said extension.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said axes are substantially in a single vertical plane on each longitudinal side of said extension.

3. In combination with horse race starting gate structure having fixed partitions defining stalls therebetween;

a partition extension secured to the forward end of each partition, said starting gate extension including;

a vertically elongated base member;

upper and lower spaced, flat, elongated support arms extending forwardly from opposite ends of said base member;

a plurality of spindles extending between said support arms and fixedly secured thereto adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof; and

a roller rotatably mounted on each spindle, the periphery of the roller extending laterally beyond the longitudinal edge of said support arm.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said starting gate extension is removably mounted on said partition.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein at least one roller is mounted at the outermost end of each extension.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 556,800 3/96 Bell etal 119-13 1,381,797 6/21 Caspers 119-155 2,066,447 1/37 Bahr 119 15.5 2,516,073 7/50 Puett 119 15.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 159,327 10/54 Australia. 475,390 10/52 Italy.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH HORSE RACE STARTING GATE STRUCTURE HAVING FIXED PARTITIONS DEFINING STALLS THEREBETWEEN AND INCLUDING BARRIER GATES AT THE FORWARD END THEREOF; A PARTITION EXTENSION HAVING ONE END SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE FORWARD END OF EACH PARTITION ADJACENT SAID GATES; AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED ANTI-FRICTION MEMBERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID PARTITION EXTENSION AND EXTENDING LATERALLY BEYOND THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF TO GUIDE A HORSE EMERGING FROM THE CORRESPONDING STALL; SAID ANTI-FRICTION MEMBERS BEING ROLLERS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT VERTICAL AXES AT EACH LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF SAID EXTENSION. 